North Dakota News Digest

11/5/2012 3:15 AM
By Associated Press

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North Dakota at 5 a.m.

OIL VOTERS-IMPACT

MANNING — Shirley Meyer grew up on a ranch north of Dickinson, N.D., and has represented her rural district in the state House for a decade. But when she knocks on doors in her re-election campaign, she sometimes feels like a stranger in her own home. "I was just shocked at how many new people there were," Meyer said during a recent campaign swing through a south Dickinson mobile home park. "I didn't see one North Dakota (license) plate." The oil boom that has transformed North Dakota's economy and reshaped the rolling prairie landscape has also added an element of mystery to next week's election by adding thousands of potential new voters to the region's tiny electorate. And the political suspense is tied to the national question of which party controls the Senate in January. By Dale Wetzel.

TOWN DESTROYED

BUCYRUS. — Some residents of a southwestern North Dakota town nearly wiped out by last month's wildfire are making new living arrangements. Four homes in Bucyrus were destroyed by the 6,000-acre fire. Linda Wiskus, one of the displaced residents, plans to live in a mobile home that has been placed on the site where her home once stood. Her son, Joey Michels, says Saturday was a big day because water and sewer operations were up and running on the property.

ND DEER SEASON

BISMARCK — This week, slightly more than 65,000 people will take to the fields for the North Dakota deer gun opener. What's significant about the opener this year is last year. In 2011, there were 110,000 hunters who had licenses for the deer gun season. Hunters — and wildlife biologists alike — will find out after the Friday opener if last year's mild winter helped the deer population rebound in the state. An AP Member Exchange Feature By Brian Gehring of The Bismarck Tribune.

For use MONDAY, NOV. 5

AP Photo pursuing

BREAD DELIVERER

FARGO — Every other week, Leonard Thompson and his wife leave the 25th Street South Sunmart with 2 1/2 shopping carts of bread. For more than 30 years, he has volunteered to pick up day-old bread and cookies from Sunmarts in the area and deliver them to homeless shelters or food pantries. In the past few years his wife, 81-year-old Barbara, also has helped. But the Thompsons are reaching the end of their bread-delivering days and have decided to retire. An AP Member Exchange Feature By Charly Haley of The Forum.

For use MONDAY, NOV. 5

AP Photo pursuing

ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:

— JAEGER-VOTING RULES — North Dakota's secretary of state says although North Dakota doesn't have voter registration, its voting rules aren't that much different from other states.

— MINOT DEPOT — .Amtrak plans $200,000 in repair work this month to its depot in Minot.

— DOCTOR DRUGS — Lawyers say the trial for a Fargo surgeon accused of drugging his wife with a powerful anesthetic and sexually assaulting her could last until Thanksgiving.

— NORWAY OIL OFFICIAL — Norway's top oil official is spending time in North Dakota this week.

— PIPELINE PROPOSAL — A Houston-based petroleum company is proposing a pipeline that would transport North Dakota crude to Superior, Wis.

— MINOT AIRPORT-DESIGN — Architects for a new passenger terminal at the Minot International Airport say the facility will be three times the size of the current building.

— OILSEED PLANT AUCTION — A defunct oilseed processing plant in the eastern North Dakota town of Northwood is being sold at auction.

— VOTING OBSERVERS-REGISTRATION — Two international election observers say they're surprised at North Dakota's lack of voter registration, and curious to find out how it works.